Fishing Report June 27.2014

Lost River Outfitters Fishing Report 6/27/2014

So many places, so little time.  Since our spring steelhead season finished on the Salmon at the end of April we have visited many of our old fishing haunts and some new ones.  There is always a piece of water that seems to need our attention.  My son Blake and his wife Kelly spent a weekend with us on Anderson Reservoir catching some nice smallmouth, then on to Magic where we had an epic day casting streamers from the bank for 2-4 lb. triploids.  In mid-May I participated in the Idaho 2-Fly which was held at Ron Sali’s 97 acre pond/lake at his fabulous estate in Eagle.  It was a fund raiser for men with cancer in Idaho.  It was an extremely inspirational event and raised some needed monies for two retreats Dick Wilson puts together every year in Copper Basin at Wildhorse Ranch and in Eastern Idaho at Three Rivers Ranch.  If anyone has any inclination to participate in one of Dick’s events let me know and I will put you in touch.  Catching five plus pound largemouth in Ron’s lake was just the icing on the cake at the Idaho 2-Fly event.  A few trips to the lakes in the Sawtooths kept the cobwebs from forming on the six weights for some nice bull trout and a perfected the double haul with full sink lines.  We have been busy.

The season opener found us on Silver Creek guiding sporadic baetis and PMD hatches on the Conservancy waters with some good success.  Sometimes a tiny nymph dropped under a size 16 snowshoe emerger made the day on guided trips. Brown drakes emerged earlier than expected, but the hatches were consistent and heavy.  Our beginner trips to the Willow waters even had good success.  One spinner fall lasted over four hours. 

I had a week guiding in Yellowstone again June 12-19.  The first day salmon flies showed on the Madison in the Park.  It looked like an epic dry fly week and then came the snows.  In spite of some inclement weather all parties experienced some dry fly fishing on the Firehole and the Madison.  Duck Creek was very good.  Many, many big rainbows, three browns, and three brookies over 15 inches made that creek memorable for everyone.  Buffalo calves were in abundance and a lone white wolf was sighted on the Firehole.   The rain and snow showers were not enough to put the rivers out, but did bring up some morels coming and going along the Henry’s Fork.   The Madison gave us some very nice browns and big rainbows fishing a large dry stonefly with a girdle bug dropper.  They ate both.  I hated to leave to return to the high cold waters of the Wood River Valley.

But….on return the Wood was fishable and clear.  The upper Lost and Copper Basin waters receding and we are preparing for a busy summer.

Here are a few tips on our local waters.

Big Wood Drainage

The Big Wood is flowing at 572 today, a bit higher after a nice rain two days ago.  Although the Big Wood did not experience extremely high run off, it flowed long enough and high enough to wash much of the mud and silt from the floods on the burnt ground of last September.  The gravels are much cleaner and the river clear.  If you want to dry fly use a large royal stimulator to raise fish.  You might want to drop a green drake nymph under your dry if you want to catch more fish.  Be prepared for a green drake hatch size 10 in the afternoons.  Green drakes are hatching far up river as Deer Creek and they move their way up river so be on the lookout.  They do like warm muggy overcast days.     

The Lower Big Wood in the Canyon waters is flowing at 911 cfs.  I don’t know how it makes it, but the fish have survived another difficult year of nearly no water.  There have been PMD hatches and if you don’t have surface action a double nymph rig with your favorite small nymphs will work.  Copper johns in brass, red, our favorite little nymph we refer to as blackie and zebra midges are all good choices.

Big Lost Drainage

The Big Lost is lacking snowpack this year.  The upper is flowing at 473 cfs today. The East Fork in Copper Basin is clear and fishable.  The upper Lost is still quite large and pushy.  For dry flies you want to have stimulators in size 8-14, green drakes size 10, and caddis size 14-16.  Green drake nymphs size 10 and stonefly nymphs size 8-10 for those who like to go dark should cover most bases.  Cold water temperatures in this drainage can be a limiting factor, so afternoons  fish  better than mornings.  Please to release your catch and handle with care.  This wonderful resource has no restrictions on trout, just the protected unique whitefish.

The Lower Big Lost is flowing at 375 cfs today, in an attempt to make the water in Mackay Reservoir last through the irrigation season.  That is down from nearly 700 cfs when the dam gate opened.  The Lower Lost is hatching yellow sallies size 14, and pale morning duns size 16 so there is some dry fly fishing.  There are also some olive caddis in size 16.  At these levels you will find soft water to raise some fish.  A few craneflies are also showing for those who like to skate the big fish out of the riffle waters.  Double weighted  nymph rigs size 16-20 will catch fish if there is no rising.  Look for some salmon flies to show.  That hatch on the lower is always a surprise but will bring large trout to the surface with aggression.

Silver Creek

Flows on Silver Creek are at 73 cfs today.  It is very low due to irrigation and a low water year.  Flows  were over 100 cfs just last week then back down again this week.  The new project looks great and will hopefully lower water temperatures on downstream reaches of Silver Creek.  Lost River was able to present the Nature Conservancy ‘s Preserve with a check for $2,400 to help with their portion of the project .  Thank you for your support of our fund raising film event in January.  Expect to see hatches of pale morning duns, baetis, and callibaetis nearly every day.  The baetis are tiny size 22-24.  Callibaetis and PMD’s average size 16, although the early season bug is a bit larger.  A pmd split thorax or callibaetis nymph under your dry works wonders if you are looking for more hookups. Super fly fished down and across is also a good choice on the creek if you are trying to catch a fish for your beginner friend.  Fish have begun to spread out and should continue to do so as the mosses grow and more cover evolves this coming month. Look to blue damsels, hoppers, beetles and ants to raise fish this coming month when mayfly hatches are sparse.  Trico season is just around the corner.

South Fork of the Boise

Flowing at 1810 cfs today, those flows will begin to move some of the silt and sand down river.  Unless you want to just fish the road side from the bank you will need a boat.  I have not seen the rapid below the dam since the flows have increased.  It would be a good idea to scout before launch.  Salmon flies were hatching before the flows went up.  Caddis were also hatching.  Expect pink alberts to begin showing as well.  There is no overnight camping in the canyon this year due to the danger of slides, so day trips only.

Magic

Our last trip to Magic produced a few rainbows.  It looks like they sounded with the surface of the lake warming.   Look for smallmouth to begin showing with the warmer waters along the rocky cliff areas.  Streamer fishing from the bank or a float tube can be very productive for the Magic smallmouth.

Yellowstone Park

If you can make it to the Park before the summer heat begins next week it should be very good.  PMD’s, yellow sallies, caddis, and baetis on the Firehole will be hatching and egg laying.  There should still be some egg laying salmon flies on the Madison and hatches of pale morning duns.  It was very good angling  a week ago.  Fishing the park can be as good as it gets and it is so beautiful.  Forget about the Lamar Valley for a while.  Water in that corner is still massive.  Slough Creek was out of its banks.

Salmon River

Water flow below Yankee Fork is 2,230 today.  That is not much bigger than we have on good water years in April for steelhead.  Two Jack Chinook showed up in the hatchery when they opened the weir.  It is time to add one more trip to the calendar.  There is a salmon season on the upper river this year.

The shop is stocked with new fly tying materials, the new Winston BIIILS Boron rods, and new shipments of bugs are arriving almost daily.  Get your kids or grandkids signed up for our kid’s fishing camp.  We are filling up.  We would just enjoy swapping some fish tales with you if you just want stop in for a quick hello. 

Fish far and fine,

Scott Schnebly

Fishing Report 09/12/2013

We typically look forward to mid-September for some of the year's best fishing.  September welcomes slightly lower temperatures, fewer people, and plenty of bugs.  While the fishing is getting good on much of our water, the fire and heavy rain storms have thrown a wrench in our plans.  Here is a quick breakdown of all of our local water:

The Big Wood
The Big Wood has been running black for a little over a week now.  We received heavy rain right after the Beaver Creek Fire was completely contained.  This created massive mud slides which flooded the river with ash and mud.  The river is fishable up north but it isn't even close in Ketchum or Hailey.  Unfortunately we are going to lose some fish, because of this event. Fish and Game is doing a study to quantify the loss of fish on the Wood, and we'll keep you updated once we have those numbers.

The Wood Mid-Valley Running Muddy

Silver Creek
On a brighter note, Silver Creek is fishing great right now! There are still sputtering trico hatches in the morning, but the real fun starts after that.  Look for baetis hatches right after tricos taper off, and you should see callibaetis mid day.  With the Wood being unfishable the creek has seen uncharacteristic pressure for this time of year, but the fishing has stayed strong.  Terrestrials are still a good bet if you aren't seeing fish mid-day.

A Silver Creek Rainbow with a Hopper in Mouth

Copper Basin

With cooler temperatures, Copper Basin and the Upper Lost are starting to fish better again.  This fishery really slows down when hot August weather increases water temperature, but it might be time to revisit these streams.  Fish attractor patterns in deeper water for best results.  If fish won't come to the surface, try dropping a nymph off of your dry fly.  

Lower Lost

We're approaching prime time on the Lower Lost.  This is one of our favorite fall fisheries, and it's starting to get good.  The Lower Lost is still going to fish best in the morning and the evening until things cool off a little bit, but it shouldn't be long before it fishes great all day.  Fish a dry-dropper with a big dry and a small nymph, until you see bugs.  You have a good chance of seeing tricos, baetis, and even a few crane flies this time of year.  

It's time to get out there! Many of our local waters fish best in the fall, so if you've been biding your time to get on the water, the wait should be over.  Swing by the shop before you head out on the river, and we'll get you set up with everything you need.  Remember if you need a little help on the water, we offer full and 3/4 day guide trips.  We'll see you out there!

-CM

FISHING REPORT JULY 19,2013

Fishing report July 19

I know you have not heard from me in some time.  For that I apologize.  It has been a whirlwind of a summer.   This last week we had a group on the Big Wood with 30 guides out followed by 25.  That is a muster for us when we usually pride ourselves with customized trips to fit the client.  I had a couple of cancellations for the next two days which is allowing me to catch up on some much needed office time.   An updated fish report was first on my list.

Some like it hot, but not our trout or the insects they feed on.  We have experienced some pretty hot weather so far in July.  Fortunately some monsoonal flows have dumped much needed rain and made for some spectacular thunder storms this month.  The showers have freshened the river flows nicely.  On the evening of July 16^th, just after our large group got off the river, a deluge the likes of which we almost never see came in from the south, pounded the Wood River Valley and continued over the Pioneer Mountains.  The following Day the upper Lost ran muddy and had risen 150 cfc.  Well over an inch of rain fell in some places. It cleared two days later and the fish did not mind.  The high altitude meadows are spectacular and the colors change weekly with blooms of different species.  Even though we are in a dry spell there has been enough moisture that the rivers are staying cool, fishing has been good to excellent, and the landscape is green.  You do need to pick the right river at the right time of day to maximize your effort on the water.  We are promised more monsoonal flows next week by Wednesday.

Big Wood

The Big Wood at Hailey is flowing below normal at 244 cfs this morning.  Still pretty good flows.  Fishing is best in the morning hours until about 2 pm then again in the evening with the caddis hatches.  Expect some rising in the morning to the various smaller mayfly spinners and some residual caddis egg laying occurring.  Some pink Alberts are beginning to show in the waters around Hailey as well.  Mid day expect to see some yellow sallies over the water in their egg laying phase.  Use a small yellow/orange stimulator.  Way north of Ketchum there are still a few Western Green Drakes around both hatching and spinning.  Longer leaders are the norm and if you do not have to match a hatch that is obvious on the water, an over sized dry fly like a stimulator or madam X with a dropper such as a 16-18 zebra midge or a 14-16 copper john will work quite well.  Swinging soft hackle nymphs in size 14 and caddis emergers on the Tenkara rod with the son of a client last week was killer.  You might want to check out our Temple Fork 10 ½ foot and 11 ½ foot Tenkara sticks.  Although swinging flies works fine with your usual gear, the no reel Tenkara is a pretty fun different style of fishing.  We will host Yvon Chouinard  in late August for a limited class in Tenkara fishing.

The water at Stanton flowing into Magic is 26 cfs and is too low and warm for much good success  right now.

Magic Reservoir is still fishing for smallmouth with streamers.  Let’s hope something survives in Magic this summer.

The Lower Big Wood, in case you had not heard, is dead.  Water flows this morning are 1.1 cfs. Two foot rainbows and browns belly up.  Thousands and thousands of trout of all sizes are in decay due to some shortsighted decisions by the Richfield Canal Company, who decided that one more day of water on the dessert alfalfa was more important than saving the trophy fishery in the Canyon below Magic Reservoir.   There is a definite lack of understanding of the value of a fishing resource and riparian habitats when it comes to water use in this state.  This fish kill did not have to happen.  The Wood River Land Trust offered to buy their last day of water release of 850 cfs to maintain daily flows of 20 cfs into September when temperatures cooled to keep the fishery alive.  The Richfield Canal company refused.  What would one less day of water have meant to the alfalfa, when there was less than 60 days of water available, one hay cutting, and temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s?  We lost a great resource.  I personally lost about 1/6^th of my guide water and days. The rest of the fly shops have been affected similarly.  The general fishing public has been robbed of a tremendous resource.  Something needs to change with this water management policy below Magic.  It will take years of good water conditions for it to recover.   If this happened in any other state there would be outrage.  It  is way past time to fix it.  There is a solution and it is not the stubborn status quo.

Silver Creek

Silver Creek is a bright spot with water flows.  It is flowing at 149 cfs.  Best fishing is in the early morning hours with Trico spinner falls and possibly PMD spinners following on some days.  Again the evening when it cools bring the hatches back the PMD emergences which have been very strong.  You should also be prepared with caddis and the tiny baetis.  If you can stand the heat some afternoon callibaetis spinner falls and emerging.  Hoppers are not far off and dry damsels in the middle of the day will surprise some of the big guys.  The rehab project in the pond area of the Nature Conservancy and the RR Ranch has been approved.  I can’t help but think this will speed flows through the pond area and help cool the waters downstream and improve trout conditions throughout all of Silver Creek. 

The Big Lost

The Big Lost system has been a bright spot this year.  Snowpack was decent, there is still some cold water coming from the ice fields above Starhope Creek and Wildhorse Creek, keeping the water and the fish healthy.  Mackay reservoir was full.  The Lower Lost has been flowing at a rate of right around 500 cfs, which is big, but wadable in spots and very fishable, mostly with small weighted nymphs right now.  In the upper Lost, the North Fork, and Copper Basin most of the heavy hatches of green drakes have gone, but there are some golden stones and yellow sallies egg laying mid day.  Most rising will occur in the morning hours when there is a rusty spinner fall and a mix of other streamborn insects.  Take your flying ants in size 14.  If you can’t see them hang them two feet off a parachute Adams or purple haze.  A dropper nymph on 5x fluorocarbon is very effective as well.  Although there are no regulations on the upper system, except for a no kill on whitefish, we have experienced catches of good sized mature rainbows and fine spot cutthroat who show spawning scars from this past spring.  We also had many juvenile fish in the East Fork drowning the dry fly trying to eat.  I really have not seen so many juveniles in the system since whirling disease affected the Big Lost system in the early 1980’s.  That is a very positive sign.  Please release your catch in the upper Lost.  It is one of our most easily accessible pristine river systems in the state.  There are rainbows, cut-bows, and cutthroat over 18 inches in the river and they are feisty, fat, and fun to catch.  No grayling to report yet however.

South Fork of the Boise

Water flows are 1600 from Anderson dam right now.  Access is good with a boat. The giant stones were out last week along with blanket caddis hatches.  Fish are hard to come by when there is that much food available.  As these two hatches diminish look for some pink alberts to emerge from the riffle waters and hoppers begin to attract some attention. 

Yellowstone Park

The Park waters are all fishable now.  The Yellowstone below the Lake is open.  I would stick with the cold water fisheries for now and save the Madison in the Park and the Firehole for fall.  We still have some openings in September for our fall trips to the Lamar Valley if anyone is interested.  If you want a thorough blow by blow, river by river update you should check out the fishing report by Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone.  He does a great job. 

That is all for now.  Be ready in August to fish far and fine as the waters continue to drop and grow gin clear.

Tight loops,

Scott Schnebly

Lost River Outfitters

Remember, our kids fly fishing camps are in full swing !

Local Fishing Report 09/20/2012

Fall is officially here, and the fishing on our local rivers remains strong.  With the crowds of August gone, the Big Wood is fishing well again.  General mayfly patterns are working well on the wood.  When they won't come up to eat the big bugs, try a small Baetis or Trico fished behind your larger dry.

Silver Creek is also a good bet right now.  Trico hatches have subsided, but we've seen good numbers of Baetis and Callibaetis around 10:00 O' Clock.  Once the bugs are gone, try hoppers, ants, and beetles mid-day.

The fishing in Copper Basin has slowed down, due to low water and colder temps.  However, if you want to give it a try, there are definitely still fish to be caught.  General attractor are still the best bet in copper basin.  Fish faster and deeper water than you would earlier in the year.

The Lower Lost is fishing very well.  Fish are still willing to eat Crane Flies, and Cranes will sometimes bring the biggest fish to the surface.  If the Crane bite slows down, try a dry-dropper combo with a big dry and a small nymph.  There are also Tricos hatching, so throw a few in your box and look for heads.

A Few Photos From the Last Week

With the craziness of summer, I've had very little time to edit photos.  This morning I took some time to do just that.  Here are a few shots of Silver Creek and Copper Basin

General Fishing Report: 07/16/2013

The summer is in full swing and things have been pretty crazy around Lost River Outfitters and the Wood River Valley.  I apologize for the lack of posts, and I promise they will pick up soon.  For now, here is a report of our local waters.  Maybe this can help guide you on your next fishing trip.

Big Wood River
Right now the Big Wood is running at 490 cfs at Hailey.  This is a great flow for this time of the year, and the fishing has followed suit.  We're reaching the tail end of the Green Drake hatch, but the fish still should be looking up for big Mayfly imitations, so don't be afraid to tie on a size 10 Parachute Adams or a big Green Drake.  While the Green Drakes are beginning to subside, there are still plenty of bugs on the Wood.  We've been seeing big brown mayflies coming off mid day, and the evening Caddis hatches aren't far off.

Silver Creek
The funny weather we've had recently has made Silver Creek a little bit inconsistent, but it is still fishing well.  In the evening, expect PMD hatches an hour or two before dark.  These bugs weren't as big as they were a month ago, but a size 16 or 18 will definitely get the job done.  If you like to fish the creek in the morning, bring plenty of BWO and Callibaetis patterns.  If you stick around for some mid-day fishing, try damselflies, beetles, and ants.  It might be a little early, but on a hot windy day, a hopper is worth a try.  If the weather gets hot again, the Tricos should be here early just like the Brown Drakes were.

Copper Basin
Copper Basin is a good option right now.  We've seen a few big stoneflies and some Mayflies in the evening.  Fish big attractor patterns and cover water.

The Big Lost
The lower lost is running at 570 cfs below Mackay res, which is a little high for wading but still fishable.  There is no doubt that the lost will fish well at these flows, but be careful wading up and down the river.  If you fish the lost, try big attractors, and if the fish aren't coming up, don't be afraid to tie a dropper on.  Crane Flies should be out soon, so pick up a few of these big bugs and skate them across your favorite pool.

Upper Salmon River
The Salmon River is running at 1470 cfs below the Yankee Fork.  This is a great floating and fishing level.  I floated the Salmon yesterday and the fishing was good.  We saw decent numbers of Golden Stones in the air, and a big, leggy attractors had fish coming up all day.  It was hard to keep the Steelhead Smolts off our flies, but we had plenty of Cutthroats coming up to sip big dry flies.  This river is best fished from a boat this time of year, but it is definitely wadable.